Boston Marathon race director Dave McGillivray started the race at about 7 p.m. Monday, finishing for the 42nd time approximately four hours later.

McGillivray ran the marathon with Sean Ryan of Green Bay, and Doug Kaplan of Chicago. Josh Nemzer of the Boston Athletic Association also ran 16 miles with them. McGillivray ran as part of Team MR8, benefiting the Martin Richard Foundation, formed by the parents of Martin Richard, the 8-year-old boy killed in the bombings at the Boston Marathon last year. His group raised more than $45,000, according to a press release.

"The Boston Marathon was one for the ages, it was simply epic," McGillivray said in a press release. "When we ran the course, it was dark and quiet -- unlike earlier when I went through the course on the scooter for the first time when there was a million-plus spectators, there seemed to be about 10 spectators along the entire course the second time through. Although I was tired when I started, it ended up being one of the easiest runs I've had in years. Now I'll start training for the Ironman."

McGillivray plans to return to Kona, Hawaii in October to participate in the Ironman Triathlon World Championships for the ninth time. It will, however, be his first in 25 years.

Last year, McGillivray was running the course when the bombs went off and was unable to complete his run. On April 26, he returned to Hopkinton to finish what he started. Prior to the 2013 race, he had run 40 consecutive Boston Marathons, and 25 of those were run after his duties as race director were done.